Fearing that the "unnamed goddess" might sense her, the high priest did not dare to mention her name rashly, but everyone knew who she was referring to. At this juncture, the only goddess who would still scheme against Ares could only be Athena.
So Ares gently had the high priest explain Athena's entire plan. After listening, he turned and his true body went directly to Hecate, who was resting in the Underworld Garden, and asked her:
"Teacher, a question: I made a virgin's vow. If I were to lose my virginity through a clone, would that count as breaking the vow?"
"Of course it would. Why do you ask?"
Hecate thought for a moment, then looked at Ares with some disdain: "Has Zeus's blood in you finally acted up? Can't you stand the loneliness anymore?"
"Of course not." Ares then recounted Athena's scheme in detail. After listening, the Moon Goddess immediately laughed so hard she couldn't straighten up.
"That's what you get for constantly provoking her." Hecate chuckled, gasping for breath, and said in bursts: "Oh, I can't take it anymore, you siblings are both talents at stirring up trouble."
Listening to Hecate's laughter, Ares's expression darkened. At this moment, he felt like a school bully who, upon discovering that someone he had bullied for years dared to resist him, felt an inexplicable surge of anger.
"What a malicious scheme, this woman!"
Ares thought indignantly:
"She actually wants to seize my virginity! How outrageous! I haven't even found trouble with you yet, and you dare to fight back!"
"Uh, God of War, what should I do..."
The high priest asked hesitantly:
"This strategy of the goddess, for you, a virgin god, must be quite malicious, right? Should I just muddle through it..."
"No, don't. Athena will definitely kill you if you do that."
Ares replied casually:
"Just continue to execute her plan as she said. I have my own way."
"This, God of War..." Ares responded instinctively, but upon hearing Ares's reply, the high priest was suddenly moved for some reason. He said to Ares: "God of War, you are the creator and protector of all humans now. I will never regret sacrificing my life for you!"
"Who wants your life? Live well and have more children." Ares scolded: "Just do as I say."
"Yes!"
Not long after giving the order, outside the cave where Ares's divine power clone was imprisoned, a sound of kneeling and worship suddenly came.
A human shouted loudly outside the cave:
"Great Olympus God Athena, pure virgin goddess Athena! Please grant us your mercy and help us overcome this terrible disaster!"
This sound also attracted Typhon's attention. The latter sat inside the cave, listened for a while, and then smiled at Ares:
"Listen, those mortals outside still don't know that your Olympus gods have either been defeated or fled. Watch me go out and scare him!"
With that, the tall and terrifying giant stood up, stretched his arms, and then walked out. Ares heard human screams of terror from outside, and Typhon's terrifying laughter. But then, there were faint sounds of conversation. After a moment, Typhon walked back into the cave, then looked at Ares with a thoughtful expression.
"What are you looking at, you horse!" Facing Typhon, Ares, as always, displayed the chaotic nature of the God of War, roaring as he gripped the bars of the birdcage.
"Hmm, good, good, you suit my temper very well." Facing Ares's curses, Typhon showed a satisfied smile, "You are much better than those cowardly runaways. You are worthy of becoming a new god under me!"
"Don't even think about it!" Ares roared upon hearing this: "I am forever loyal to Olympus!"
"Heh heh, it doesn't matter, I don't care about your opinion." Typhon sat cross-legged on the ground at his leisure, then propped up his chin and said: "I heard humans say that you seem to have sworn to your mother that if a woman breaks your virginity, your power will diminish to a level inferior to even a main god. But don't be afraid, I will use my power to reshape you into our form then. You will gain a new life, hmm... I remember I have a daughter, I'll let you be her husband then."
"You?" Ares showed disdain: "Looking at your barbaric appearance, your daughter probably isn't anything tasteful either, is she? With your looks, you still want to be new gods? I tell you, being a god isn't just about having power. Do you know how to distinguish the bloodline of a hound from a horse? Do you know what style and color of formal wear you should wear at a gods' banquet? Do you know how much money it takes to maintain a chariot and a mount every year? Can you appreciate music? Do you know how to appreciate the nuances of every instrument? No, you don't. You don't even know how to process beef or use cutlery when you eat it. Who would sincerely obey such a god?"
Ares's rapid-fire mockery made Typhon dizzy, but his words were actually just sophistry. In this era, not to mention monsters like Typhon, even the gods were not as fastidious as the later Western European nobility. Those things only appeared after the Roman Empire emerged and reached its peak.
However, it couldn't be said that these things had no class. After all, although Typhon didn't understand what Ares was saying, it inexplicably developed a yearning for them. So it slapped its thigh and loudly said:
"What's wrong! Can't you be a god if you don't know these things?"
"Yes!" Ares glared at Typhon and shouted: "You can't even use a knife and fork, are you worthy?"
"Why am I not worthy!" Typhon said, while extending a finger to scratch the top of his foot: "Even Zeus couldn't beat me! Look, look, what good are these things to you? You still lost to me anyway."
"Tsk—" Seeing Typhon's utterly uncouth behavior, Ares clenched the bars of the birdcage, his arms and forehead covered in bulging veins. He seemed unable to bear Typhon's actions any longer, and stomped his foot, shouting:
"Damn it, this is a disgrace! An absolute disgrace! Get over here, I'll teach you how!"
"Huh?" Typhon curiously leaned closer to the birdcage and asked: "How?"
"First, find a cow!" Ares roared: "We'll start from the very beginning—I'll teach you how to make a medium-rare steak!"
...
The next morning, outside the cave where Typhon resided, a massive monster also arrived. Its body resembled a giant dog, but it had nine enormous snake heads.
This monster came to the entrance of the cave, then prostrated itself on the ground, its body slowly shrinking to a height that matched the cave's.
Then it slowly crawled inside, and at the same time, the largest of its nine snake heads opened its mouth and spoke in human tongue: "Father, I'm here. Where is the husband you mentioned?"
The snake monster called out, but no one responded, which made it a little strange. So it slowly crawled deeper into the cave, and then, the sight that appeared before its eyes greatly surprised it.
Its incredibly violent father, Typhon, was now sitting obediently on the ground, head bowed, listening to something. And in front of him, there was a tall, strong, and incredibly handsome male deity, gesturing at him, yet Typhon was not angry. Instead, he was as docile as a student in front of a teacher.
In its sharp-clawed hands, it held a pair of exquisite knife and fork, and in front of it was a silver platter. On the platter was a fragrant steak, drizzled with delicious sauce, and Typhon was carefully cutting the steak on the plate with the knife and fork in its hands, as if handling something fragile.
This sight left the snake monster stunned. After repeatedly confirming that it wasn't dreaming, it finally choked out: "Father, what happened to you? Has your mind been damaged by Zeus?"
"Hmm? You're here, Hydra." Hearing the snake monster's voice, Typhon, who was diligently trying to eat the steak with elegant movements, put down his knife and fork. He turned his head and showed Hydra a ferocious smile, then continued: "Come, come, come, take a look. This is the husband I chose for you. What do you think?"
Upon hearing this, Hydra's nine snake heads stared at Ares for several seconds, its forked tongues flicking in and out, and then it nodded in satisfaction: "Fragrant, truly fragrant. He must be very delicious."
"Right?" Typhon let out a laugh like a volcanic eruption: "Just you wait, when I find that empress, I will marry Hera, and then your wedding will be held together with ours! Let the world know that we are the true rulers of this world!"
"Hmph, idiot—" Upon hearing Typhon's words, Ares let out a disdainful laugh: "What's so good about Hera? She's already Zeus's worn-out shoe, and you're actually planning to make her your empress? You truly have no taste."
"Hmm." Hearing Ares's words, Typhon was not annoyed. He retorted: "Then who do you think is worthy of being my empress?"
"That would naturally be Athena!" Ares shouted without hesitation: "You wouldn't understand, Typhon! Athena swore a virgin's oath to the restraining force, a woman even Zeus can't obtain! Furthermore, she is the officially designated next successor of Olympus! Athena is the future God King!"